Composition for normalizing otitis externa in mammals

Abstract

Otitis externa is a condition of the outer ear canal in mammalian animals, especially dogs and cats, marked by inflammation and infection of tissue, buildup of ear wax, and draining of ear exudate. Symptoms of infection are, among others, excessive cerumen, alopecia in the ear flap, crusts, and ear pruritis. Typical causes of otitis externa are fungi, bacteria, and mites. A medicating mixture in accordance with the invention, comprising cold-pressed citrus oil, deionized water, and, optionally, hydrolysates of milk proteins, when applied topically to an infected ear canal can produce significant reduction in symptoms. In a clinical study, 95% of an infected population of dogs were normalized without other or further treatment.

1 . An ear cleaner composition for normalizing otitis externa in mammals, comprising:
 a) cold-pressed citrus oils; and   b) deionized water.   
     
     
         2 . An ear cleaner composition in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said cold-pressed citrus oils are derived from the group consisting of  Citrus aurantium, Citrus reticulata , and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . An ear cleaner composition in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said cold-pressed citrus oils further comprise materials selected from the group consisting of water, surfactants, stabilizers, preservatives, bactericide, colorants, pH adjuster, inorganic base, sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . An ear cleaner composition in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said cold-pressed citrus oils are present in an amount between about 65% and about 85%, and wherein said deionized water is present in an amount between about 15% and about 35%. 
     
     
         5 . An ear cleaner composition in accordance with  claim 4  wherein said cold-pressed citrus oils are present at 77.42%, and wherein said deionized water is present at 22.58%. 
     
     
         6 . An ear cleaner composition in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising colostrum-derived proteins. 
     
     
         7 . An ear cleaner composition in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said colostrum-derived proteins are bovine. 
     
     
         8 . An ear cleaner composition in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said colostrum-derived proteins include cytokines. 
     
     
         9 . An ear cleaner composition in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said cold-pressed citrus oils are present in an amount between about 65% and about 85%, wherein said deionized water is present in an amount between about 15% and about 35%, and wherein said colostrum-derived proteins are present in an amount between about 2% and about 5%. 
     
     
         10 . An ear cleaner composition in accordance with  claim 9  wherein said cold-pressed citrus oils are present at 77.42%, wherein said deionized water is present at 19.35%, and wherein said colostrum-derived proteins are present at 3.23%. 
     
     
         11 . An ear cleaner composition in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising active oils selected from the group consisting of Buriti oil, Andiroba, Babacu, Castanha do Brasil,  Passiflora Edulis  seed oil,  Passiflora Incarnata  Seed Oil, Pequi oil, Acai Oil, Annato oil, Brazil nut oil, Copaiba oil, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method for normalizing otits externa in the ear canal of an animal, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing an ear cleaner composition including cold-pressed citrus oils and deionized water;   b) applying a dose of said ear cleaner composition to the skin and hair surfaces of said animal ear canal;   c) removing loosened debris from said skin and hair; and   d) repeating steps b) and c) at weekly intervals as needed until said ear is normalized.   
     
     
         14 . A method in accordance with  claim 13  comprising the further step, before said applying step, of confirming the presence of a tympanic membrane in said ear. 
     
     
         15 . A method in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said ear cleaner composition further includes colostrum-derived proteins. 
     
     
         16 . A method in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said dose is between about 0.5 cc and about 1.0 cc for cats and between about 1.0 cc and about 5.0 cc for dogs.